Every Premier League rule change coming for Manchester United and Man City this season

Every Premier League rule change coming for Manchester United and Man City this season

Manchester United and Manchester City are a matter of weeks away from the start of the Premier League season and some major rule changes are going to be noticeable

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim (Image: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images )

Manchester United and Manchester City have been informed of the rule changes that will be implemented in the new Premier League season, particularly regarding VAR and goalkeepers' time wasting.

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United have jetted off to Chicago today (Tuesday) as they embark on the summer pre-season tour across the pond. It is yet another checkpoint in the build-up to the new Premier League season for Ruben Amorim's men.

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City meanwhile are having a very different pre-season due to their involvement in this summer's Club World Cup and their players are currently getting some much-needed rest before the campaign begins. Either way, all players in the top flight have a firm eye on the weekend of August 16 when the serious competition starts.

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Ahead of the start of the professional football season, which kicks off for Leagues One and Two on the first weekend of August, IFAB have confirmed the rule changes that will be implemented. There are two notable changes for Premier League clubs starting with VAR.

IFAB has announced that leagues will be allowed permission for their referees to explain VAR calls in the stadium via the speaker systems. This will be conducted when there has been a VAR review or a lengthy VAR check.

The Premier League announced in February that they would be hopeful of implementing this change at the start of the 2025/26 season. It has already been trialled in several high profile matches including in the Carabao Cup last season.

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Referee Stuart Attwell makes a VAR announcement during last season's Carabao Cup semi-final between Tottenham and Liverpool

Meanwhile, IFAB has decided to clamp down on goalkeepers holding onto the ball for excessive periods of time. Next season, the shot stoppers will be able to hold onto the ball for eight seconds rather than the previous six.

However, after three seconds the referee will raise their arm and countdown from five to ensure the goalkeeper releases the ball within the time limit. If this is not adhered to, the goalkeeper and his team will be penalised with a corner kick being awarded to the opposition.

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There have also been a couple of minor changes made to the laws of the game that clubs will need to be aware of. For example, referee's will enforce that corners are taken on the side closest to where the goalkeeper was positioned when the corner was conceded by them.

Meanwhile, should a player who is off the field of play as a substitute or injured or a coach kick the ball on the pitch, an indirect free kick will be awarded but no further sanctions given. This is to avoid scenarios where players and coaches have kicked the ball while still in play, in an attempt to keep the game moving.

Previously, players and coaches would have been booked for that offence. City's Premier League campaign begins on Saturday, August 16 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers while United start their season at Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17 against Arsenal.

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